A Brief Timeline About Fashion & Furniture Designer Andrea Valentini
- "Hi! I'm Andrea Valentini, best known for sculpting and molding innovative textiles. My work has always been Inspired by my sense of place and the personal influence it's had on my lifestyle. I believe that Identifying with oneself through an existing environment is a mirror or reflection of who you will become. For me...making innovative textiles tells a story of where I've been and what influences have shaped my mindset and my creative work. From 2003-2023 my custom textiles where a reflection of the textiles mills I grew up around in New England. I found inspiration from the potential of manufacturing underutilized materials and machinery. This led to my very first signature textile collection of making protective cushiony foam infused fabricated bags and home furnishings. Since transitioning from the east coast to the west coast of Northern California; this past 5 years my work has been a direct influence of the natural beauty of landscapes. Rolling hills, grand ocean views, mountainess terrain and expansively grown vegitation. With this discovery of it being easily accessible, I adopted a more vegan lifestyle. My story is intended to heighten ones awareness for making choices that not only represent a particular sense of style but to give back to the beauty that enriches our mind, body and souls and ...This story has inspired my latest textiles of custom plant-based bio leathers into a light travel collection of everyday unisex bags.
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From her initial launch in 2001 at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in NYC her furniture garnered awards and worldwide attention and her innovative textiles have been represented by material libraries globally.
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In 2001 her Coosh Egg Chair became award winning and was voted future furniture by Interior Design Magazine. It went on to be nominated for best product design by the notable Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt Musuem and purchase by MOMA In 2003 for commercial production.
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In 2003 she began turning her innovative fabrics into objects for fashion and home furnishings. Characterized as protective, cushiony, durable and lightweight they were accepted into the prestigious architects and designers Material Connexion Libraries worldwide.
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In 2006, her first breaking commission with the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) to produce computer laptop bags using her convoluted fabrics set her off into the bag world.
- From 2009-2015 she launched and maintained two flagship studio/galleries in Providence, RI. While her passion for her signature textile bag collections was still strong, the economy for retail consumption especially in mid-range luxury fashion world began to diminish and she was forced to close the retail stores.
- In 2016 she opened her own factory in Pawtucket RI and maintained a small showroom with a working factory until 2018.
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In 2018, she packed up and moved to northern california in search of new meaning and reflection. She became inspired by the rolling landscapes, big skies and naturally grown vegetation that is so abundant and accessible. She was so inspired she adopted a more vegan lifestyle.
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In 2023 she discovered a premium plant-based bio leather made from the skins of cacti and proceeded to customize a monogrammatic compressed signature pattern to establish a cohesive collection of travel and work bags that are soft, durable, sustainable, genderless, and eco-conscious.
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In 2024 she launched her latest collection of plant-based bags that are styled for light travel, work for everyday wear.
- Her bags and tabletop collections are available online and may be customized in collaboration with others. She is now based in San Francisco, California.